Highest Grossing Anime Movies Of 2021: 2021 was an excellent year for anime lovers. The new year brought many great anime movies to the screen. The last year was a roller coaster of emotions with many fan-favorite franchises coming to an end and the rise of original movies. The previous year served the anime community with some massive hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Belle. In addition, 2021 brought back many classic anime films such as Shin-chan, Detective Conan, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Gintama.
The anime community and entertainment industry are slowly mending from the global pandemic. After suffering huge losses in the past years, 2021 promised hope for the anime industry. Movies like Gintama The Final and the Detective Conan movies have kick-started 2021 with excellent box office records. So, what were the movies that crossed the mark of earnings? Which banner was the highest-grosser? To answer all these, here are the top 10 highest-grossing anime movies of 2021.
Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi
Detective Conan has been running for almost twenty-five years. The famous detective story has inspired many anime movies and television series. Last year, the franchise released a compilation movie ‘Detective Conan: The Scarlet Alibi’. The film released on February 11, 2021, to positive reviews. The movie is a compilation of every episode from the anime series, that features the Akai family. The movie made $10,308,627 at the worldwide box office.
Sword Art Online The Movie: Progressive – Aria of a Starless Night
The Sword Art Online: Progressive movie is based on the light novels of the same name. The science-fiction drama opens up the Aincard story arc of the series. Studio A-1 Pictures produced the film, and Ayako Kono directed the film. The story follows Kirito and Asuna reaching the first floor of Aincard. The movie was released on October 30, 2021. And collected $1,050,000 at the Japanese Box Office. In addition, the film collected $13,688,614 worldwide. Moreover, due to the success of this film, a sequel is also getting ready to release this year.
Crayon Shin-chan: Shrouded in Mystery! The Flowers of Tenkazu Academy
Shin-chan is a popular anime that is known for its amusing plot and peculiar comedy. The titular character is a favorite character for children everywhere. After a long wait, the hilarious five-year-old returned in the twenty-ninth film of the franchise. The mystery-comedy movie was released on July 30, 2021. And was produced by Shin-Ei animation. Coming to the box office, the movie collected US$13,760,388 at the Japanese Box Office and collected US$15.02 million worldwide.
Gintama: The Final
Next on the list is one of the most famous gag anime series. Fans were not ready to bid goodbye to the hilarious adventures of the funny characters who have been making the fans laugh for over fifteen years. However, all good things must come to an end. And so does Gintama. Gintama: The Final is the last installment of the anime series. The movie was released on January 8, 2021. And Bandai Namco Pictures produced the movie with Chizuru Miyawaki serving as the director. The movie was a huge success at the box office collecting $16,971,401 in Japan alone. Furthermore, it collected US$17.2 million globally.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway
This is the show that revolutionized the mecha genre in anime. And the latest movie in the series Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway proved the superiority of the franchise once more. The movie was released in Japan in theaters on June 11, 2021. Furthermore, the movie made $18,731,309 at the Japanese Box Office. The action drama is focused on Hathaway Noa. Who under the alias of Mafty Navue Erin forms a group to fight against the cruelty of the Earth Federation.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission is the third movie in the franchise. The film was released on August 26, 2021, in Japan. As the title suggests, the story follows global heroes trying to fight a cult of terrorists. Critics everywhere praised the movie for its stunning visuals. In addition, many of them appreciated the resemblance of early superhero comics in the art and storyline. Thus, the film collected $9,767,647 in the Japanese Box Office. However, the film collected $41,001,190 at the worldwide box office.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was the most awaited film of 2021. The dark fantasy film serves as the prequel to the original anime series. The film is based on the fantasy manga of the same name. The story of the film follows a young Yuuta. And his fight with his dead childhood friend Rika. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was one of the most successful films of 2021, with excellent reviews. So, naturally, it should not come as a surprise that the film has made $2,000,000 at the Japanese Box Office as of the second week.
Also Read: 13 Best Demon Lord Anime That You Should Rewatch This Month!
Belle
Every year has that one movie that outshines the rest of the selection. And in 2021, it was the fantasy adventure movie, Belle. Despite being an original film project, it quickly captured the hearts of the audiences. The story follows Suzu, who turns into a global superstar when she travels to the ‘U’ virtual world. During one of her concerts, she meets the mysterious beast. Curious to find out more, she follows him to uncover his identity. The movie has received many award nominations and was praised for its exciting story.
Furthermore, in Japan alone, the movie made US$57,146,644 at the box office. Worldwide, the film made a fortune of $57,689,510. Thus, making it the third-highest-grossing anime movie of 2021.
Detective Conan: The Scarlet Bullet
Detective Conan The Scarlet Bullet is the twenty-fourth installment in the Detective Conan films. The films are based on the manga series by Gosho Aoyama. The film was released on April 16, 2021, in Japan. Moreover, in the first three days after the release, the movie sold 1,533,054 tickets. As a result, the movie collected $95,580,715 worldwide. Thus, making it the second-highest-grossing anime movie of 2021. In addition, the film received praise for highlighting even the side characters. And for perfectly balancing dynamics between the different characters.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
On the first place in the list of top 10 highest-grossing anime movies of 2021 is Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. It is the final movie of the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Furthermore, the film broke the opening day record for IMAX in Japan. The science-fiction movie has effortlessly carried its story and wowed the audience. As a result, critics are dubbing the movie a masterpiece. Fans of the franchise shared their satisfaction over the beautiful ending of the series. In the Japanese Box Office alone, the movie made US$92,246,218. Thus, making it the highest-grossing movie of the year in Japan.
Hence, we complete the top 10 highest-grossing anime movies of 2021. The year gave us a perfect collection of anime movies. From fantasy to comedy to adventure and action. Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section. Stay tuned with the Anime Daily Website for all the latest updates on your favorite anime and manga.